Skip to main content

6 exhilarating hiking movies to inspire your next trek

Check out these films that will scratch your itch to get out on a hike

Hiking in France
Nicolas Cool / Unsplash

There is no adequate substitute for spending time in the great outdoors. Hiking, climbing, camping — anyone who spends hours — or days — out in nature knows that the wilderness is both restorative and addicting. But unless you want to become a park ranger or a professional hermit, you can’t spend all your time traveling.

When you’re stuck inside, you can at least get a bit of that wild charm by watching a movie that puts the natural world front and center. Today, we’re looking at six hiking movies that anyone who loves a good trek will thoroughly enjoy — that is, unless living vicariously through these on-screen adventures backfires completely and you end up more frustrated than before. If that happens, then you really need to get outside.

The Way (2010)

The Way
64 %
7.3/10
pg-13 128m
Genre Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Deborah Kara Unger
Directed by Emilio Estevez
This film, starring Martin Sheen, is highly respectful of the ancient, reverent hike across Spain known as the Camino de Santiago. The Way (as the pilgrimage is often called) serves as the backdrop to a story of a man coping with the death of his son, but the scenery and the spirit of the Camino de Santiago end up serving almost as characters themselves.

The Way Back (2010)

The Way Back
66 %
7.3/10
pg-13 133m
Genre Drama, Adventure, History
Stars Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan
Directed by Peter Weir
If you ever wondered whether you would enjoy being in a Soviet prison camp and then hiking across hundreds of miles of the Siberian wilderness and across a few mountain ranges, then watch the 2010 film The Way Back. You will quickly come to the conclusion that, no, you would not like those things. The movie is based on a gripping biography of a Polish man named Sławomir Rawicz. It later came to light that Rawicz had wildly embellished the stories he told his biographer; while he was a prisoner in a Soviet gulag during part of WWII, he did not escape from the camp and did not hike from Russia to India. Still, the movie is gripping, exciting, and at times quite brutal. It shows how cold and harsh nature can be, yet also showcases the indomitable human spirit.

Wild (2014)

Wild
74 %
7.1/10
r 115m
Genre Drama
Stars Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Keene McRae
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
The 2014 Reese Witherspoon movie Wild is centered on a woman hiking the PCT after her life falls apart following the death of her mother, a divorce, an abortion, drug use, and more. She sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in hopes of finding herself. The movie is based on the well-written memoir of the same name by author Cheryl Strayed and is full of stunning Western scenery, a few laughs, and some pretty heavy moments. Witherspoon received an Academy Award nomination for her acting in the movie, which was generally well liked by audiences and critics alike. If you head for the PCT, watch this film first and plan things out better than its protagonist did.

Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild
73 %
8.1/10
148m
Genre Adventure, Drama
Stars Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt
Directed by Sean Penn
In an all-out, adventure-style film, Into the Wild is a somewhat true telling of the real-life Christopher McCandless, who gave up his entire life and all his savings after college to hitchhike to Alaska. Referenced as a true story in the film, it is actually based on the Jon Krakauer novel, which is based on McCandless’ journal he kept during his journey. Full of unique natural and human interactions, we witness a story of beauty and tragedy as Chris experiences all that life has to offer. This film will inspire you to get out and see the world, so long as you have a backup plan and plenty of food and supplies.

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

A Walk in the Woods
51 %
6.3/10
104m
Genre Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson
Directed by Ken Kwapis
This buddy comedy stars Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Based on the book by Bill Bryson, Bryson (played by Redford) sets out to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends. While not exactly outdoorsmen, the pair work their way along the trail, rekindling their friendship, in the process.
A Walk in the Woods Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Nick Offerman, Emma Thompson Movie HD

Jungle (2017)

Jungle
115m
Genre Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Alex Russell, Thomas Kretschmann
Directed by Greg McLean
Jungle is a biographical survival drama film based on a true story about Yossi Ghinsberg, an Israeli adventurer who travels to Bolivia in the early 1980s seeking an expedition into the Amazon rainforest. While there, he meets fellow travelers, and together, they embark on a guided jungle adventure with a mysterious Austrian stranger. Their journey takes a turn for the worse when they get lost and face the dangers of the wild. The film portrays Yossi’s fight for survival after being separated from his companions. The movie stars Daniel Radcliffe as Ghinsberg and focuses on his harrowing experience and resilience in the Amazon.

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Nate Swanner
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nate is General Manager for all not-Digital-Trends properties at DTMG, including The Manual, Digital Trends en Espanol…
5 reasons you should buy your Ikon Pass for next ski season now
Skiers and snowboarders: Buy your Ikon Pass now
Spring powder day snowboarding Palisades

Palisades Tahoe Palisades Tahoe

As a devoted skier or snowboarder, you want to play on the best mountains. Harrowing steeps, deep powder, and lofty elevations not only bring memorable experiences, but they challenge you and help you improve. Across the globe, you have hundreds of destinations to choose from, each with distinctive topography and snow quality. Lake Tahoe has inclines and chutes that push your limits, while Utah’s “Champagne Powder” offers float and glide like nowhere else.

Read more
8 healthy benefits of hiking you need to know
Start hiking and enjoy the mental and physical benefits right away
Two people hiking together

Hiking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the U.S. However, it’s more than just a full-body workout; it’s also an excellent opportunity to spend time in nature, clear your mind, and improve your sense of well-being. In addition, hiking is a fully adjustable workout, and you can start on an easy trail and work your way up to full-blown mountain hiking no matter how long your progress takes!

It’s an activity that can be done just about anywhere. Because the prime hiking season in the national parks around the U.S. varies based on climate and affordability, you can easily adjust your hiking plans to match the seasons and see some beautiful areas throughout the country. It’s a great way to meet nature at its level and a perfect excuse to shut out the noise of the modern world.

Read more
These are the best multi tools you need to have in your EDC kit, hands down
Stay prepared for any eventuality with one of these tools
Leatherman signal fishing

We are men. We always feel as though we need our chosen tools nearby. There is a culture of men always feeling the need to be prepared for anything. Just in case the world ends tomorrow, we have what we need to survive and protect. We are so dedicated to this that an entire industry called everyday carry, or EDC, has grown around it. But there is a component of EDC tools that cannot be forgotten: the multi-tool. Not only is it vital to get yourself one of the best multi-tools, but it may be the most vital.

Multi-tools are the most important item in EDC
All the best EDC kits have a handful of must-haves to ensure you're prepared for any eventuality. A great EDC knife is the first thought many have when they think of everyday carry. But there is a long list of possible things to carry: a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a lighter, a compass. Each of these items has a very specific design intent.

Read more